O may I never forget the obligations that are contracted, by being enlisted a disciple of the cross, in the sacrament of confirmation.
O grant that I may ever have before my eyes the duties thereunto annexed, and that I may live henceforward according to the spirit of a true and perfect Christian.
"Short ejaculations of this kind, frequently darted from an humble and fervent heart, penetrate the clouds, pierce the paternal heart of the Father of Mercies, and draw down an ample benediction on those pious souls to whom they become familiar by practice and habit; this manner of prayer is highly commended by the saints, and was one of the principal excercises by which the ancient solitaries arrived at the highest perfection. It has this peculiar advantage, that one can practise it at all times, on all occasions, and in the midst of external employment, without being exposed to the danger of vain glory, as it is secretly performed in the closet of the heart. It is short and easy, does not distract or fatigue the mind, but keeps up the fervour of the spirit, and attention to the divine presence."
O my God, I now desire to adore thee, bless thee, and glorify thee, for ever, for all thou hast done for me, and for thy whole church, both of heaven and earth. I would now gladly join both my heart and my voice with all thy angels and saints in heaven, and with all that fear thee and love thee on earth, in giving perpetual praise to thee for thy infinite goodness, and in particular for that love thou hast shown to me this day. I give thee thanks from the bottom of my heart, for having sent down the Holy Spirit into my soul, with all his gifts and graces.O let him now take full possession of my soul; let this heavenly unction penetrate into the very centre of my interior; let his divinewisdomever preside there, may it ever enlighten me with his gifts ofunderstanding, and dispel all my darkness: may it direct me with hiscounsel, strengthen me with hisfortitude, instruct me with hisknowledge, make me ever fervent in all good, with hispietyandgodlinessand let hisdivine fearever restrain me fromevil. And now, dear Lord, since thou hast been pleased, by this sacrament, to consecrate and sanctify my soul for thyself, and to make it thy temple, be pleased also to drive far from it, by thy grace, all that may violate or profane it, or render it any ways disagreeable to thy eyes. O keep it for ever for thyself, and restrain Satan from ever entering into it any more. O let it be ahouse of prayer, in which thou mayest be everworshipped, in spirit and in truth, and suffer it not to be made any more aden of thieves. Give me grace also to fulfil, with perfection, every branch of the duty of thysoldier,—which glorious title thou hastconferredon me this day: arm me completely for the warfare in which I am happily engaged, and stand by me in all my conflicts, to crown me with victory. O make mefaithful unto death, and bring me safe through all the dangers of my mortal pilgrimage, to the crown of everlasting life: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
N. B.—Here repeat the Hymns, "Creating Spirit, come posses;"and,"Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams,"which are inserted, with the Latin, at the end, under the head of Whit-Sunday.
"There is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved."—Acts. iv. 12.
This Psalter is divided into three Parts; each part consisting of five Petitions, and each Petition prefaced by a tenfold repetition of the sacred name ofJesus. As it is not to be run over in too hasty a manner, but performed with the utmost reverence and recollection, the whole may be said without interruption; or, each Part at three distinct periods of time; according to the leisure which persons may find, after discharging the indispensable duties of their several states and conditions of life.
"At the name ofJesuslet every knee bend, both in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and let every tongue acknowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father."—Philippians ii.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) thou God of compassion, have mercy on me, and forgive the many and great offences I have committed in thy sight. Many have been the follies of my life, and great are the miseries I have deserved for my ingratitude. Have mercy on me, dear Jesus, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord, for I am unable to help myself. Deliver me from an inordinate affection for any of thy creatures, which may divert my eyes from incessantly looking up to thee. For the love of thee, grant me henceforth the grace to hate sin, and out of a just esteem of thee, to despise all worldly vanities.
Have mercy on all sinners, I beseech thee, dear Jesus; turn their vices into virtues; and making them sincere lovers of thee, and observers of thy law, conduct them to bliss in everlasting glory. For the sake of thy glorious name Jesus, and through the merits of thy bitter passion, have mercy also on the souls in purgatory. O blessed Trinity, one eternal God, have mercy on me. Our Father. Hail, Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) help me to overcome all temptations to sin, and the malice of my ghostly enemy. Help me to spend my time in virtuous actions, and in such labours as are acceptable to thee. Enable me to resist and repel every inordinate emotion of sloth, gluttony, and carnality. Render my heart enamoured of virtue, and inflamed with desires of thy glorious presence. Help me to merit and preserve a good name by a peaceable and pious life, to thy honor,O Jesus!to my own comfort, and the edification of others.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c.as in the first petition. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me effectual strength of soul and body, to please thee in the performance of such virtuous actions as may bring me to thy everlasting joy and felicity.Grant me, O most merciful Saviour, a firm purpose to amend my life, and to make atonement for the years past; those years, alas! which I have lavished, to thy displeasure, in vain or wicked thoughts, evil words, deeds, and habits. Make my heart obedient to thy will, and ready, for thy love, to perform all the works of mercy. Grant me the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which, through a virtuous life, and a devout frequenting of thy most holy sacraments, may at length conduct me to thy heavenly kingdom.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) comfort me, and grant me grace to fix in thee my chief joy and only felicity; inspire me with heavenly meditations, spiritual sweetness, and fervent desires of thy glory; ravish my soul with the contemplation of heaven, where I hope to dwell everlastingly with thee. Bring thy unspeakable goodness to my frequent recollection, and let me always with gratitude remember thy gifts; but when thou bringest the multitude of the sins whereby I have so ungratefully offended thee, to sad remembrance, comfort me with the assurance of pardon; and by the spirit of true penance purging away my guilt, prepare me for the possession of thy heavenly kingdom.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) make me constant in faith, hope, and charity. Grant me perseverance in virtue, and a resolution never to offend thee. May the memory of thy passion, and of those bitter pains thou didst suffer for my sake, fortify my patience, and refresh my soul under every tribulation and adversity. Render me a strenuous professor of the Catholic faith, and a diligent frequenter of my religious duties. Let me not be blinded by the delights of a deceitful world, nor my fortitude shaken by internal frauds or carnal temptations. My heart has for ever fixed its repose in thee, and resolved to contemn all things for thine eternal reward.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
The Lord Jesus "Christ, for our sakes, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."Philippiansii.
Hear these petitions, O most merciful Saviour, and grant me the grace frequently to repeat and consider them, that they may serve as so many easy steps, whereby my soul may ascend to thy knowledge and love, and to a diligent performance of my duty to thee and my neighbour, through the whole course of my life.— Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe in God.
Begin as before, saying, "At the name of Jesus let every knee bend, both in heaven, on earth, and under the earth," &c, as in part the first,page492.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) enlighten me with a spiritual wisdom, whereby I may arrive at a knowledge of thy goodness, and of every thing which is most acceptable to thee. Grant me a perfect apprehension of my only good, and a discretion to regulate my life accordingly. Grant me wisely to proceed from virtue to virtue, till at length I enjoy a clear sight of thy glory. Forbid it, dear Lord, that I return to the sins of which I accused myself at the tribunal of confession. Let others be edified by my pious example, and my enemies mollified by my good counsel.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c,as before, page493. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me grace inwardly to fear thee, and avoid every occasion whatsoever of offending thee. Let the threats of the torments prepared for sinners, the dread of the loss of thy love and of thy heavenly inheritance, always keep me in awe. Suffer me not to slumber in sin, but rather rouse me to repentance, lest through thine anger I may be overtaken by the sentence of eternal wrath, and endless damnation.Let the powerful intercession of thy blessed mother, and of all thy saints, but above all, thine own merits and mercy, serve as a rampart between my poor soul and thy avenging justice.—Enable me, O my God! to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, and the apprehension of thy sacred judgments. Make me a more humble and diligent suitor to the throne of thy mercy.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me the grace truly to love thee, for thine infinite goodness, and those excessive bounties I have received, or shall ever hope to receive from thee. Let the recollection of thy benignity and patience conquer the malice and wretched propensity of my perverse nature. May the consideration of the many deliverances, frequent calls, and continual helps, I have received from thee during the course of my life, make me blush at my ingratitude. Ah, what return dost thou require of me for all thy mercies, but that I love thee! And why dost thou require it? Because thou art my only good!—thou art my dear Lord! the sole object of my life; and I will diligently keep thy commandments, because I truly love thee.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me the grace always to remember my latter end, and the account I am to give in after death; that so my soul may be always well disposed, and ready to depart out of this life in thy grace and favour.At that important hour, by the powerful intercession of thy blessed mother, the glorious assistance of St. Michael, and my good angel, rescue my poor soul, O Lord, from the snares of the enemy of my salvation. Remember then thy mercy, O dear Jesus! and hide not thy face from me on account of my offences. Secure me against the terrors of that awful period, by causing me now to die daily to all earthly things, and to have my conversation continually in heaven. Let the remembrance of thy death teach me to set a just value on life; and the memory of thy resurrection encourage me to descend cheerfully to the grave.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) send me my purgatory in this life, and thus prevent me from being tormented in the cleansing fire which awaits those souls who have not been sufficiently purified in this world. Vouchsafe to grant me those merciful crosses and afflictions which thou seest necessary for weaning my affections from things here below. Suffer not my heart to find any repose but in sighing after thee, since no one can see thee, who loves any thing which is not for thy sake. Too bitter, alas! will be the anguish of the soul that desires to be united to thee, and whose separation is retarded by the heavy chains of sin.Keep me then, O my Saviour, continually mortified in this world, that being purified thoroughly with the fire of thy love, I may pass from hence to the immediate possession of thee in everlasting glory.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. &c.as at the conclusion of the fifth petition, page495.
Begin as before, saying, "At the name of Jesus let every knee bend," &c.,page492.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me grace to avoid bad company; or, if I should chance to come in the midst of such, preserve me from being infected with the least temptation to mortal sin, through the merits of thine uncorrupt conversation among sinners. Art thou not always present, O Lord? and wilt thou not take an exact account of all our words and actions, and judge us accordingly? How then dare I converse with liars, slanderers, drunkards, or blasphemers; or with such whose discourse is either vain, quarrelsome, or dissolute?—Repress in me, dear Jesus, every inordinate affection to carnal pleasures, and to delights of taste; and strengthen me by thy grace to avoid such company as would enkindle the flames of those unruly appetites. May thy power, thy wisdom, and thy fatherly compassion defend, direct, and chastise me; and cause me to lead such a life here amongst men, as may qualify me hereafter for the conversation of angels.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me the grace to call on thee for help in all my necessities, and frequently to remember thy death and resurrection. Wilt thou be deaf to my cries, who hast laid down thy life for my ransom? or canst thou not save me, who took it up again for my crown?Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee. Whom have I in heaven but thee, O my Jesus! from whose blessed mouth issued such balmy words? Thou art my sure rock of defence against all mine enemies, and my gracious assistant in every good work. I will, then, invoke thee with confidence in all my trials and afflictions, and when thou hearest me, O Jesus! thou wilt have mercy on me.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) enable me to persevere in a virtuous life, and never to grow weary in thy service till thou rewardest me in thy kingdom. In pious customs, holy duties, and in all honest and necessary employments, continue, O Lord, to strengthen me, both in soul and body. My life is nothing on earth but a pilgrimage towards the heavenly Jerusalem, to which he that sits down, or turns out of the way, can never arrive.May I always, O Jesus! follow thy blessed example. With how much pain, and how little pleasure, didst thou press on to a bitter death, that being the assured way to a glorious resurrection. Let me frequently meditate on those severe words of thine:He only that perseveres to the end shall be saved.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me grace to fix my mind on thee, especially whilst I converse with thee in time of prayer. Check the wanderings of my fanciful brain, put a stop to the desires of my fickle heart, and suppress the power of my spiritual enemies, who at that time endeavour to withdraw my mind from heavenly thoughts to vain imaginations. Thus shall I joyfully look on thee as my deliverer from all evil, and thank thee as my benefactor for all the good I have received, or hope to obtain. I shall be convinced that thou art my chief good, and that all other things were ordained by thee only as the means of engaging me to fix my affections on thee alone; that by persevering till death in thy love and service, I might be eternally happy. Let all my thoughts, O beloved of my soul! be absorbed in thee, that my eyes being shut to all vain and sinful objects, may become worthy to behold thee face to face in thy everlasting glory.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me the grace to order my life with reference to my eternal welfare, sincerely intending, and wisely referring all the operations of my soul and body towards obtaining the reward of thy infinite bliss and eternal felicity. For what else is this world but a school for the tutoring of souls created for eternal happiness in the next? And how are they educated but by an anxious desire of enjoying God, their only end? Break my froward spirit, O Jesus! by the reins of humility and obedience. Grant me grace to depart hence with the most sovereign contempt of this world, and with a heart overflowing with joy at the thoughts of going to thee. Let the memory of thy passion make me cheerfully undergo every temptation or suffering in this state of probation, for love of thee; whilst my soul, in the mean time, languishes after that life of consummate bliss and immortal glory, which thou hast prepared for thy servants in heaven. O Jesus! let me frequently and attentively consider, that whatsoever I may gain, If I lose thee, all is lost; and that whatever I may lose, if I obtain thee, all is gained.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c,as in page493.
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips, and my tongue shall declare thy praise.
Incline unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, hasten to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
I.—The Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Son of God assumes human flesh, of the pure blood of the blessed Mary ever virgin, and is made man in her womb.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory be to the Father, &c.
II.—The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Saviour of the world is born for our redemption; his mother remaining a virgin.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
III.—The Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Saviour being eight days old, begins to suffer for our sins, and his blood already flows for us. He is circumcised according to the law, as if he had been himself a sinner.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
IV.—Our Lord Jesus Christ is found in the Temple.
Our Saviour being twelve years old, shows himself more than mortal, by his knowledge and wisdom, teaching the very teachers of the Jews.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
V.—The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Saviour of the world is baptised by St. John. The eternal Father declares him to be his Son.
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
O Jesus! whose name is above all names; that in the name of Jesus every knee may bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and in hell; who, at the time appointed by the eternal wisdom, assumedst flesh in the womb of the blessed Mary, ever virgin, and thus became the Son of David, whose birth gladdened men and angels; who began so early to suffer for us, and to shed, on our account, that blood that washeth away the sins of the world; whose eternal wisdom appeared at the age of twelve years; to whose baptism all heaven was attentive; grant to us to celebrate those mysteries to thy honour and our own salvation: who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, for all eternity. Amen.
I.—Our Saviour washeth his Disciples' feet.
Our Saviour, to show us an example of humility, and how much we ought to serve each other, descended so low as to wash the feet of his disciples, though he is the God whom heaven and earth adore.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
II.—The Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden.
Our Saviour, knowing his passion to be now at hand, is so affected with the thoughts of it, and so oppressed with the load of our sins, that he prays to his almighty Father, that the bitter cup might pass away from him.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
III.—Our Saviour is apprehended.
Our Saviour, as if he had been no more than mortal, yields to the power of men, and permits himself, for our redemption, to be apprehended, as if he were a malefactor.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
IV.—Our Saviour carries his Cross.
Our Saviour, being torn with scourges, and pierced with thorns, to expiate our sins, is compelled to carry the cross on which he is to die, and moves on in anguish and sorrow towards the place of his execution.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
V.—The Descent of our Saviour into Hell.
The soul of our Saviour being separated by death from the body, descends to that place where the saints were expecting their redemption.
O Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
O Jesus, whose name is above all names; that at the name of Jesus every knee may bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and in hell; whose mysterious humiliation and sorrows, appointed for thee on account of our sins, appeared in the washing of the feet of thy servants and creatures, in thy distress, and prayer, and bloody sweat; in thy being secured and brought before tribunals as a criminal; in thy bearing the load of the cross, and in the separation of thy soul from the body, and its descent to the regions below: grant to us to celebrate these mysteries to thy honour and our own salvation; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, for all eternity. Amen.
I.—The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The soul of our Lord Jesus Christ, which had been separated from the body, is re-united to it, by a miracle of the Almighty power; and that body, which had been dead, rises to die no more.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
II.—The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ ascends to the highest heaven, where the Saviour of mankind sitteth at the right hand of God, the almighty Father.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
III.—Our Lord Jesus Christ sends down the Holy Ghost.
Our Saviour, now seated at the right hand of God, his almighty Father, sends down the Holy Ghost, to inspire and animate his disciples, that they may be qualified to publish to mankind his cross and his glory.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
IV.—Our Lord Jesus Christ crowning the blessed Virgin and Saints.
Our Saviour, having by his passion, resurrection, and ascension, opened the way for the sons of Adam to heaven, which they had lost by sin, bestows on his Mother and his saints a crown of immortal glory.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
V.—Our Lord Jesus Christ coming to Judge Mankind.
Our Saviour will come in power and majesty, to judge the living and the dead, and to return to every one according to his works.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. [Ten times.] Glory, &c.
O Jesus, whose name is above all names; that at the name of Jesus every knee may bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and in hell; whose body, that was murdered by mankind, the Almighty raised from death, glorious and immortal; who, by thy ascension, triumphed over death, and led captivity captive; who, according to thy promise, sent down the Spirit, that proceedeth from the Father and the Son, the comforter and the enlivener; who, stretching forth the bounty of thy almighty hand, shed upon the chosen children of Adam, that glory that neither eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man; and who will come forth in power and majesty, to judge the living and the dead, before whose throne all mortals will appear: grant to us to celebrate these mysteries to thy honour, and our own salvation; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God for all eternity. Amen.
"N.B.—The repeating of the above prayers or meditations, is not absolutely necessary. Those who cannot read or meditate on the mysteries, let them say the Creed beforehand in this Rosary, and in that of the blessed Virgin."The devotions belonging to this Rosary, or the Rosary of the blessed Virgin, do not bind under sin."N.B.—Those who are in the Society of the Rosary of the name of Jesus, may have the same plenary indulgence on New Year's Day, that is granted in the year of the Jubilee.
"On every second Sunday in the month,"At the time of being received into the Society,"At the article of death,q "And on each day of the fifteen mysteries."
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Vers. Hail, Mary, full of grace, our Lord is with thee:
Resp. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Vers. Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips.
Resp. And my tongue shall announce thy praise.
Vers. Incline unto mine aid, O God.
Resp. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.Alleluia.
[From the Septuagesima to Easter, instead ofAlleluia,say:Praise be to thee, O Lord, King of eternal glory.]
To be said on all Mondays and Thursdays, the Sundays of Advent, and after Epiphany till Lent.
I.—The Annunciation.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the angel Gabriel saluted our blessed Lady with the title of "Full of Grace," and declared unto her the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Then say, Our Father, &c.once; andHail Mary, &c.ten times.
[When the "Hail Mary" is repeated a tenth time, the Decade finishes with, "Glory be to the Father." &c.; then follows the Prayer. Which method is to be observed in beginning, and saying each part of the Rosary.]
O holy Mary, Queen of virgins, through the most high mystery of the incarnation of thy beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by means of which the work of our salvation was so happily begun, obtain for us, by thine intercession, light to be sensible of so great a benefit, which he hath bestowed upon as; vouchsafing thereby to make himself our brother, and thee, his only beloved mother, our mother also. Amen.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the angel that her cousin, St. Elizabeth, had conceived, went with haste into the mountains of Judea, to visit her, and remained with her three months.
Our Father, &c.
O holy Virgin, most spotless mirror of humility, by that exceeding charity which moved thee to visit thy holy cousin, St. Elizabeth, obtain for us, by thine intercession, that our hearts may be visited by thy most holy Son, that being free from all sin, we may praise and give him thanks for ever. Amen.
III.—The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the blessed Virgin Mary, when the time of her delivery was come,brought forth our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, at midnight, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inns at Bethlehem.
Our Father, &c.
O most pure Mother of God, by thy virginal and most joyful delivery, in which thou gavest unto the world thine only Son, our Saviour, we beseech thee obtain for us, by thine intercession, grace to lead such pure and holy lives in this world, that we may worthily sing without ceasing, both day and night, the mercies of thy Son, and his benefits to us by thee. Amen.
IV.—The Oblation of our blessed Lord in the Temple.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the most blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of her purification, presented the child Jesus in the temple, where holy Simeon, giving thanks to God with great devotion, received him into his arms.
Our Father, &c.
O holy Virgin, most admirable mistress, and pattern of obedience, who didst present in the temple the Lord of the temple, obtain for us of thy beloved Son, that, with holy Simeon and devout Anna, we may praise and glorify him for ever. Amen.
V.—The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how the blessed Virgin Mary having lost, without any fault of hers, her beloved Son in Jerusalem, she sought him for the space of three days, and at length found him the fourth day in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, disputing with them, being of the age of twelve years. Our Father, &c.
Most blessed Virgin, more than martyr in thy sufferings, and yet the comfort of such as are afflicted, by that unspeakable joy wherewith thy soul was ravished, at finding thy beloved Son in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, disputing with them, obtain of him for us, so to seek him and find him in the holy Catholic Church, that we may never be separated from him. Amen.
Hail! holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished sons of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mournings, and weepings, in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile ended, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O pious, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Vers. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
Resp. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O God, whose only begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant we beseech thee, that meditating upon those mysteries, in the most holy Rosary of the most blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
To be said on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the Year, and on Sundays in Lent.
I.—The Prayer and Bloody Sweat of our Blessed Saviour in the Garden.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus was so afflicted for us in the Garden of Gethsemani, that his body was bathed in a bloody sweat, which ran trickling down in great drops to the ground.
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory, &c.as before.
Most holy Virgin, more than martyr, by that ardent prayer which thy most beloved Son poured forth unto his Father in the Garden, vouchsafe to intercede for us, that our passions being reduced to the obedience of reason, we may always, and in all things, conform and subject ourselves to the will of God. Amen.
II.—The Scourging of our Blessed Lord at the Pillar.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how our Lord Jesus Christ was most cruelly scourged in Pilate's house, the number of stripes they gave him being above five thousand. [As it was revealed to St. Bridget.] Our Father, &c.
O Mother of God, overflowing fountain of patience, by those stripes thine only and most beloved Son vouchsafed to suffer for us, obtain of him for us grace, that we may know how to mortify our rebellious senses, and cut off all occasions of sinning, with that sword of grief and compassion which pierced thy most tender soul. Amen.
III.—The Crowning of our Blessed Saviour with Thorns.
Let us contemplate in this mystery, how those cruel ministers of Satan platted a crown of sharp thorns, and most cruelly pressed it on the most sacred head of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father, &c.
O Mother of our eternal Prince and King of Glory, by those sharp thorns wherewith his holy head was pierced, we beseech thee, that by thine intercession we may be delivered here from all motions of pride, and in the day of judgment from that confusion which our sins deserve. Amen.